Squirrel removal and squirrel controlcan be very challenging. It will require many different types of tools and ladders to complete this task. There are many different types of squirreltraps. Live traps in the attics aren't as effective as you might think. Trappingsquirrels at the roof entrance and near the entrance can be very successful Most squirrelcontrol service work is at the roof line if the house or dwelling. Properly trained & licensed exclusion professionals will make squirrel control, problem
free. State animal control
officers will respond free of charge when a squirrel is in the living areas of your home. How to Trap Squirrels & trapping Squirrels Squirrel Removal Prevention

Raccoon control and removal is very dangerous work. Raccoons have a higher possibility of carrying rabies and will be aggressive if cornered in the attic or inside your chimney. See page on raccoon diseases Most county and state animal control officials will respond to a raccoon inside you living areas of your home at no charge. Raccoons cause damage or nuisance problems around houses and
outbuildings when they seek to gain entrance to attics or chimneys or
when they raid garbage in search of food. In many urban or suburban
areas, raccoons are learning that uncapped chimneys make very adequate
substitutes for more traditional hollow trees for use as denning sites,
particularly in spring. In extreme cases, raccoons may tear off
shingles or facia boards in order to gain access to an attic or wall
space. When the raccoon takes up residence in your yard, crawlspace, attic, and chimney then
you need a professional. Most wildlife removal and control
professionals have had a rabies pre-exposure vaccine administered to them. Trappingraccoons will be the best form of control. Raccoons thatenter traps must always be treated as if they have rabies. Tips on how to trap raccoons and raccoon trapping

Skunk control and removalwill always be unpredictable. Trappingskunks pose a special problem. How do you get the skunk out of the trap? The best way to remove a liveskunk from your trap is to talk to it. This lets the trapped skunk know where you are at all times. When talking to the skunk, you don't startle the trappedanimal. The spray from a skunk can linger for weeks. unless you are very brave and or very confident, always have a professional remove these friendly but smelly creatures.

Opossum trapping and removal is less dangerous than most other wildlife control. it is still not for everyone. Trapping opossums to remove them from under your building will keep them from eating your trash. Removal is the best form of opossumcontrol. The opossum is part of the kangaroo family. usually the opossum resides in the lower areas of your dwelling. The opossum usually feeds on the dead caucus of other animals. Trapping, removal and exclusion is the best way to handle these creatures.

There are more than 60 different species of opossum, which are often
called possums. The most notable is the Virginia opossum or common
opossum—the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States
and Canada. A female opossum gives birth to helpless young as tiny as honeybees.
Babies immediately crawl into the mother's pouch, where they continue
to develop. As they get larger, they will go in and out of the pouch
and sometimes ride on the mother's back as she hunts for food. Opossums
may give birth to as many as 20 babies in a litter, but fewer than half
of them survive. Some never even make it as far as the pouch. Opossums are scavengers, and they often visit human homes or
settlements to raid garbage cans, dumpsters, and other containers. They
are attracted to carrion and can often be spotted near roadkill.
Opossums also eat grass, nuts, and fruit. They will hunt mice, birds,
insects, worms, snakes, and even chickens. These animals are most famous for "playing possum." When threatened by
dogs, foxes, or bobcats, opossums sometimes flop onto their sides and
lie on the ground with their eyes closed or staring fixedly into space.
They extend their tongues and generally appear to be dead. This ploy
may put a predator off its guard and allow the opossum an opportunity
to make its escape. Opossums are excellent tree climbers and spend much of their time
aloft. They are aided in this by sharp claws, which dig into bark, and
by a long prehensile (gripping) tail that can be used as an extra limb.
Opossums nest in tree holes or in dens made by other animals. These animals are widespread and are sometimes hunted as food, particularly in the southern United States.

Snakesget the worst publicity of all. They have been feared since biblical times. Although snakes are sometimes thought to stalk humans that's quite untrue. they're very east to predict. Food, heat and water is all they pursue. Take any of these things out of the equation and the snake leaves. Wildlife control professionals know how to remove the factors and then remove the snake problem.

What Rebecca Hurst thought was the sound of sprinklers
outside her Bluffton home Sunday night was actually the rattling of a
venomous snake. Rebecca,her husband, John, and their 5-year-old
daughter, Jenny, had recently returned from a four-day vacation. After
relaxing on his rocking chair on the back patio, John Hurst went inside
the house around 10:30 p.m. but left the patio door open. "I heard this sound that sounded like water gushing
in the sink," Rebecca Hurst said. "I got out the flashlight. I shined
it to the left where the sprinklers are, and there was a huge coiled-up
snake." The Hursts called 911. The Beaufort County
Sheriff's Office responded and confirmed it was a canebrake
rattlesnake. The Hursts asked the Sheriff's Office to remove the snake,
and a deputy shot it, Rebecca Hurst said. "We had no choice; that thing was huge," she said. Canebrake rattle snakes typically grow to four to six feet long, according to DNR wildlife biologist Anna Tarter. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources said snakes are on the move
now to find mates and places to lay their eggs, and residents should be
aware when they go outside to garden. With the recent rains, snakes
also could be looking for dry ground if their holes have been flooded,
said Tarter. If you find a snake in your yard, you should leave it alone and call an animal removal service or local law enforcement. Liz Mitchell, staff writer

Beavers destroy man made habitat, but create much needed wetlands. The beaver will never stop tearing down trees and blocking waterways. Most humans cannot tolerate beavers when they devour the ornamental trees that humans plant . Hancock traps can remove beavers live.

Birds crap all over everything. from starlings nesting in vents to pigeons roosting at areas where humans do business, birds create many environmental hazards. Removal and control of birds in attics and vents require specialized tools including rods, cameras and blowers to remove nests and to blow the loose debris out. Installation of birdnetting and birdspikes are preventive ways in which to deal with birds.

I live in an old farmhouse and have always had bats in the attic. My attitude was “they could have the attic and I would have the rest of the house”. I had no flies, mosquitoes, and very few other flying insects. It worked quite well for a number of years. We lived in harmony, more or less. Unfortunately, word got out and I soon had 4 colonies in the attic. Than a black snake took up residence. Harmony was destroyed and utter chaos took its place. Bats began to slip under the doors, through the keyholes, down the chimney etc.etc. Princess Nephriti (the Siamese cat) thought that this event was on a par with the invention of Fancy Feast and as playmates, right up there with snakes (that‘s another story). She would sit on the newel post of the stairs, and when one would fly by, she would grab them in mid-air. She would then come to me with bat in mouth and wings flapping. I would grab the leather gloves, take it out of her mouth and pitch it outside. After a few episodes of this, she stopped bringing them to me and would instead play with them, throwing them in the air and jumping up after them. Than I noticed that she wasn’t sleeping much during the day anymore. Found her sitting in front of the woodstove patiently waiting for a bat to come out. They would come down the chimney and slip out through the air vents. After I shut those down, they would slip out where the stove pipes fit together: a bat would slip a wing through, than his body and head and than the other wing. Nephie always waited until they were all the way through before pouncing. She always got her bat. It got to the point where Nephie couldn’t keep up with the traffic and when I came downstairs one morning to find a row of bats hanging from a bookcase I gave up. Called in professional help, my bat removal service responded promptly. We all live in harmony once again, the snake is still in the attic, he got to fat to get out again. At least I hope it’s a he and not a she producing little snakes.

Janet Santen 6/18/09

Rabies in Ontario

This page was reviewed or revised on Thursday, March 05, 2009. The arctic fox strain of rabies (carried mainly by red foxes and skunks) has been
present in Ontario for decades. A strain new to Ontario, carried mainly by raccoons, entered the province in 1999.

Baiting programs have proved very successful in the rapid decline of fox rabies in
Ontario since their inception in 1994. There were
66
animals tested positive for rabies in Ontario in 2008. There were 106 animals tested positive for rabies in Ontario in 2007

BEAVERS

Beavers
usually cause damage to agricultural or residential property as a
result of dam construction, flooding, bank burrowing and tree removal.
Habitat modification by beavers usually benefits fish, furbearers,
reptiles, amphibians, waterfowl and shorebirds.

Beavers often will dam: culverts, bridges or drainpipes resulting in flooding and property damage.

Under
section 9(1)(b) of the Wildlife Act, a person commits an offence if the
person disturbs, molests or destroys a beaver house, den or dam without
a permit.

Under section
9(2)(b) a person can legally remove a dam to provide irrigation or
drainage under lawful authority for the protection of property. Under
all other circumstances, a person must have a permit to remove beaver
dams, dens or houses.

Several
permits are needed in order to remove or alter beaver dams or houses.
These approvals must be in place before any work can take place.

A permit under the Water Act is required to divert or make any changes in or about a stream.

A permit issued from Wildlife Branch is needed to remove beaver dams or houses

A permit from Fisheries and Oceans Canada is needed if there is going
to be any alteration of fish habitat or depositing of deleterious
substances (silt), as a result a beaver dam or house being removed.

Water level control pipes can be installed in ponds to control water levels and prevent flooding.

Usually the only way to control beaver related damage is to have the beavers removed through trapping.

Beavers are classified as furbearers under the Wildlife Act and may be trapped in-season by a registered trapper.

BIRDS

All
birds are considered wildlife and are afforded full protection under
the BC Wildlife Act. A person commits an offence if the person except
as provided by regulation or by an issued permit, possesses, takes,
injures, molests or destroys a bird or its eggs.

Under
the Wildlife Act Designation and Exemption Regulation 253/2000 Schedule
C, point 2, the following species of birds and their nests or eggs can
be destroyed without a permit: crows (except common ravens),
black-billed magpies, European starlings, house sparrows, rock doves
and brown-headed cowbirds.

Some
species of birds are classified as game birds. Hunting seasons and bag
limits for game birds are published in the annual Hunting Regulation
Synopsis. This synopsis is available via a link on the Ministry of
Environment's website.

For injured birds phone the nearest animal rehabilitation centre.

BIRDS - Migratory

Ducks,
geese and all other migratory birds are under the mandated of the
Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS). Provide the caller with a contact
phone number. The CWS is the agency that issues crop damage and scare
permits for waterfowl.

BIRDS - Raptors (Hawks, Falcons and Eagles)

Raptors
will occasionally kill poultry, domestic rabbits and other small
domestic animals. Hawks and Eagles normally attack unconfined domestic
animals during the day. Occasionally hawks and owls will enter into
poultry houses and cause severe losses.

Covering coops with wire mess (chicken wire) or netting can help prevent raptors from gaining access to poultry.

House poultry at night. Poultry can be conditioned to move indoors by feeding them at dusk inside the coop.

Raptors
often survey an area from a perch to help them locate food. Remove any
perches (large isolated trees) within 100 metres of coops.

Place metal shaped cones on top of poles to reduce perching sites.

Use scarecrows - they must be moved regularly.

Scare devices such as cracker shells can also be used to scare off raptors.

Electric
pole shockers are also an option. Install the shockers approximately
30-50 metres from the problem area. Information of pole shockers and
their construction can be found on the following website Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. View the document Hawks and Owls for a diagram on how to construct pole shockers.

Under
section 34 of the Wildlife Act as person commits an offence if they
possess, takes, injure, molest or destroy a bird, its nest or its eggs.

FOX

Foxes can cause serious problems for poultry producers. Foxes might also kill young pigs, lambs and small pets.

Preventing poultry and livestock losses can be minimized and prevented by installing net wire or electrical fencing.

Net
wire fences/coops should have openings of less than 3 inches. The
bottom of the fence should be buried 0.3 m to 0.9 m (1 to 2 ft.) into
the ground to prevent foxes from digging under the fence.

The tops of coops should be covered with wire as well.

Electric or combination electric and wire fencing is also effective at repelling foxes.

Foxes
are defined as fur-bearing animals under the Wildlife Act and can only
be trapped in-season by a registered trapper. Province wide, hunting
is prohibited for foxes.

If the caller is interested in contacting a trapper, provide them a contact phone number.

Scare devices are an option to try and help protect poultry and livestock from fox predation.

Local feed stores may carry these products.

Provide website addresses that sell these products.

Like
other wild canines, foxes will quickly adapt to scare devices, but such
devices may temporarily solve fox problems. If the caller is
interested in repellents and scare devices refer to COYOTES.

Foxes
that are harassing or menacing domestic animals (livestock) or birds
can be hunted or trapped on a person's property under Section 26(2) of
the Wildlife Act.

Under
Section 2 (Property in Wildlife) - section 2(4) states that a person
who by accident or for protection of life or property kills wildlife,
that wildlife remains the property of the government.

Persons
must report the killing or wounding of any wildlife. Failing to report
the killing or wounding of any wildlife whether it is for protection of
life or property is an offence under section 75 of the Wildlife Act.

Persons
must comply with all Municipal, Provincial and Federal laws surrounding
the use and discharge of firearms or the setting of traps.

Persons
are liable for any wildlife that is wounded or injured as a result of
them exercising their rights under section 26(2) and they are legally
responsible for any misuse of firearms.

MARINE MAMMALS

Marine mammals such as whales, porpoises, sea lions fall under the mandate of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

PORCUPINES

Common
wood preservatives may repel porcupines when applied to plywood. Wood
preservatives, which are based on metal-salt solutions shouldn't be
used. Porcupines are attracted to salt.

The
fungicide, Thiram has been registered in the United States as a
squirrel and rabbit repellent. It is noted that it may also repel
porcupines. Thiram is used in the Golfing and Turf business.

Porcupines
are considered wildlife and are afforded full protection under the BC
Wildlife Act. A porcupine can not be killed unless a permit has been
issued - they aren't any hunting seasons for porcupines in BC.

If
you are experiencing property damage as a result of porcupines, contact
a licensed pest control company. Pest control companies can be found
in the yellow pages.

Raccoons are
classified as furbearers under the Wildlife Act and may be trapped
in-season by a registered trapper. Raccoons can also be hunted during
an open hunting season if the person holds a valid BC hunting licence
and they live in an area that is open to hunting and the discharge of
firearms or bows.

Section
26(2) of the Wildlife Act allows a person to hunt or trap wildlife that
is on their property and is a menace to a domestic animal or bird.

Raccoons can not be captured or killed without a permit.

Municipal bylaws may prohibit the use of traps, firearms and bows. Contact the local bylaw department.

Under section 26(1)(f) a person commits an offence if they hunt, take, trap, wound or kill wildlife with poison.

If
you are experiencing property damage as a result of raccoons, contact a
licensed pest control company. Pest control companies can be found in
the yellow pages.

RABBITS

Rabbits
can consume approximately 1/2 kg of green vegetation daily.
Significant damage can occur when rabbits are attracted to orchards,
gardens or agricultural crops.

Damage
to gardens, ornamental trees or agricultural crops usually occurs when
the fixtures are located in close proximity to deciduous forests
(rabbit habitat).

Damage can also occur when natural rabbit food is scarce or has dried up in hot weather.

SKUNKS

To
keep skunks from denning or digging under buildings, seal off all
foundation openings with heavy wire mesh, sheet metal or concrete.

Fencing around yards should be buried 11/2 to 2 feet into the ground to prevent skunks from digging underneath the fence. Skunks rarely climb fences.

Garbage and other food sources such as rodents can attract skunks.

A rodent control program may be necessary.

Remove
debris such as old cars, stacked lumber, decrepit sheds and buildings
that can provide shelter and sources of food (mice).

Mothballs
and ammonia soaked clothes can be used to repel skunks. Repellents
must be replaced frequently and will likely only act as a short-term
fix.

Skunks are wildlife under the Wildlife Act. It is an offence to trap or kill wildlife without a permit or authorization.

Skunks may be trapped in-season by a licence trapper or a permitted pest removal company.

Skunks
can be hunted during open hunting seasons provided the hunter holds a
valid BC resident hunting licence and the area that the hunting takes
place is open to hunting and the discharge of firearms or bows.

Municipal bylaws may prohibit the use of traps, firearms and bows. Contact the local bylaw department.

If
you are experiencing property damage as a result of skunks, contact a
licensed pest control company. Pest control companies can be found in
the yellow pages.